Last Sunday night, Michelle texted me with some news she saw on FaceBook. (Now that I don’t have FB on my phone, I miss some things… though I still don’t regret removing it from my phone).   My first minister, Phil Pierson, passed away on Sunday. He was actually one of my two first ministers . His wife, Dorothy Pierson, who I mention from time to time, passed away in 2013 at the age of 97. Phil was 98 when he passed. I didn’t want to say this was “sad” news, because they both

As noted above, coming into our Thanksgiving Celebration, we will begin a two-part series this Sunday on Deepening Our Gratitude Practice.  It is often a challenge to come up with a new twist on Gratitude – but I believe you will be inspired, as I have been, by the two Gratitude Practices that these lessons will illuminate. I look forward to exploring them with you over the next two weeks – culminating with our Thanksgiving Communion Service and PotLuck Luncheon on November 2

It’s great to be back – especially to meet my newest grandchild, Charlotte Victoria Elder (Charli). And I had a wonderful time in Cincinnati (as usual), even as I realized that this would be my last Halloween trip where my oldest grandchild, Mateo, would be living at home when I visit (he graduates high school in May and will be living in the dorms at the University of Cincinnati next fall). The dichotomy of Mateo becoming an adult before my eyes – just as Charli enters the w

Day of the Dead for Pets? Every year the celebration of Day of the Dead seems to just get bigger and bigger. Once practiced mostly among the indigenous populations in Mexico, Day of the Dead is now a huge holiday all over Mexico, the United States, and even some Central American countries. I call it the “Coco Effect.” Ever since Coco, the Disney movie that beautifully depicts this fascinating tradition, came out in 2017, Day of the Dead has simply exploded. And in a strange t

As we approach the end of October, the veil between the spirit world and the material world becomes thinner. At least, this is the belief of those who celebrate Día de los Muertos . You may find that you are reflecting more at this time on your own loved ones who have passed. I know I have been thinking a lot about my beloved Grandma, my kitties Molly and Zoe, and my Uncle Jim.   Loss and grief are human conditions that affect all of us at one point or another in life. Grief

I’m sure you have noticed that the season has changed—it’s getting dark earlier each day, we have traded that crazy humidity for rain, and the early mornings are now chilly. You may have already even placed an extra blanket on your bed. Yes, fall is here! And with fall comes the time when we at UMB step out of our collective comfort zone and lean into a time of exploring and sharing with one another our feelings, beliefs, concerns, and fears regarding the issues of death, dyi

Michelle and I attended the Unity West Central Region Ministers & Leaders Training this week – in Santa Cruz. This is where Unity ministers, Licensed Unity Teachers (LUT’s), and Spiritual Leaders (who are on a path to ordination while leading a spiritual community) come together to discuss ministry in our times ; receive training in subjects like ethics, church administration, inclusivity, youth education; and hear about the status of our movement across the nation and world.

Yom Kippur,  the holiest day of the year in Judaism, began at sundown today – Wednesday Oct 1st – and goes through sundown tomorrow –...

This Monday was the autumn equinox—an astronomical event that marks the beginning of autumn and occurs when the sun crosses the...

As I sit here writing this message on the deck in my backyard which overlooks a canyon surrounded by tall Monterey pines, I can feel the...